A funny thing happened on the way to the AIRPORT ...

YOu may be asking yourself why two smart people, with perfectly valid Eurorail passes, might be writing a blog about the experiences in a Barcelona airport. For the answer to that, we have to take you backwards a few days. Come follow us on this new twist to our journey. :)

So we woke up early from our hotel room in Barcelona, ready to go to the train station and book our train to Nice, France. We had a nice breakfast of grapes and juice (clearing the fridge in the hotel room of the last random pieces of what we bought) and packed up everything on our sacks. After having checked out and stowing our luggage, we made ur way tot eh train station. We asked the nice genetleman about the departure times, thinking we would be able to get space on the night train, and were informed that at 8 pm there was a scheduled Frenc train strike. Yup, at 8 pm we could be stuck at whatever town we were in, if the conductors decided to stop at the dot, or we would be stuck in Nice if they let the trains go through to their destinations. Either way, the strike would last at least 2 days (sso much for those day trips via train from Nice to Monaco and Cannes) and that the strike might last longer than 2 days if it was extended. So, any train travel in France was dicy at best.

So imagine yourself having spent the last 10 days in Spain and Portugal, ready to move onto the next country, and finding yourself stuck, as the only border country with Spain tot eh east is France. no option to skirt around it via another country. No securty that the money you spend will be for transport somewhere, or a grand donation to the french train lines. So we did the onlly thing we felt had security to it, we looked for flights out. We figured a flight would be an added cost (ugh), but if it saved the timing of the rest of our trip, then it was worth it.

Since we checked out of our room, we could not use their internet access, so we found a wifi connection at a local cafe. With two cafe con leches and small sandwiches in hand, Tims fingers flew trying to find flights using the ipod. Did we mention what a life saver this thing has been? :)

With a flight at 8:05 pm secured (we thought, no way to print a confirmation from the ipod!) we then tried to plan the rest of our time in Barcelona. We tried the Picasso Museum, which was an interest for Michelle, but it was closed. We then wandered around the Gothic quarter, and ate out first churros con chocolate with a yummy tropical icee. We then walked around Las Ramblas, which is a main shopping area. We visited a marketplace that sells fruits and meats, and tried a hot pink kiwi tasting fruit. We then went to the Guell park, which was designed by Gaudi. Then back to the hotel to pick up the baggage.

We left about 4 hours to get there, and were proud to have been there and ready to take off in 2 hours. The flight to Milan was uneventful, which is good. :) We arrived at the airport and had our luggage by 9:30.

More to come on the interesting search for a hotel for the night, and the rat hole where we finally stayed. Also an update on the events of this last day in the Cinque Terre. Yeah, the next post will be a fun one. :)

Depending on access, it might be a little while before we post again. Yes, the pink water bottle is back in our hands, for those that were worried about its fate. And a Happy Birthday to Michelles dad (on the 26th) and Michelles sister Shelby on the 29th!